PARIS: Lovlina Borgohain entered the arena with a smile, and with a strange, awkward looking sway to the music almost as if she was willing herself to be in the zone that was required of her. She smiled through almost all of her bout with old foe Li Qian, showing even through the exaggerated pouts that mouth guards give boxers – once even offering to help pick up the Chinese when the double Olympic medallist and the world No 1 found herself on the floor during a second round brawl.
The last Indian boxer in the fray here, was she not aware of the task ahead of her in Paris? Or was appearing blissfully oblivious her way of deflecting all things mental in boxing?
Maybe, that is how she is made. Is Lovlina too much of a nice guy in this grab and smash world of Olympic women’s boxing? It was an aspect that she may have perhaps needed to conceal, disguise in this high stakes bout with Qian, one that would grant her entry to the Roland Garros venue as a semifinalist in the women’s 75kg, and ensure her of a medal, her second at the Olympics.
Because at some level there was disappointment too, and overnight anger. Disappointment because Lovlina was the last of the Indian boxers here in Paris, after a shrill campaign that had promised much but unfortunately delivered little. And anger from overnight, because many in the Indian camp felt that late evening fighter, Nishant Dev was robbed of a genuine win against Mexico’s Marco Alvarez in the strangest of split decisions in Saturday’s men’s 71kg quarterfinals, after he had taken the lead in the first round and had looked the better puncher in the final third.
Lovlina entered the ring with a smile, but left with a little tear in her eye. Because, it would go in similar fashion on Sunday morning as well, the Indian being edged out in a 4-1 split decision in a close fight to a familiar foe.
The bout began with Lovlina needing to stay out of the Chinese’s reach, not get too close and get ensnared in a scrap which would allow Qian employ her clinching tactics. But just the reverse happened. Lovlina was drawn into the fight at the level and nature that Qian would have liked, the holding and clinching ensued leaving Lovlina having to drag herself from it. Still, it was a close verdict – 3-2 – in the Chinese boxer’s favour.
Realising that she may have a chance if she reverted to her type, Lovlina began Round Two in just that way. Like she did with her easy-looking manner in the last bout against Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad, Lovlina kept away forcing Qian to charge. The taking over of momentum worked, as Lovlina seemed much more in control, dictating the fight her way.
It was the best round of boxing of the bout with the two gangly 75 kg boxers sizing each other up, parrying and trading punches. It was again 3-2 in favour of Qian, but a much-improved show from Lovlina – two of the judges who had ruled in favour of Qian in the first round choosing to award the Indian here. It gave much hope for the final three minutes, where maybe there lay in store, a semifinal entry for Lovlina, and her own second Olympic medal.
She had to fight to recover, to draw level and to take the lead. In the third then, dropping her defences Lovlina waded in, in an attempt to turn the tide but Qian was more than prepared. Trailing after the first round has afflicted the Indian boxers here in Paris, leaving them with having to do the rallying in the second and fight for parity and hope for an inch-close win off the final. More often than not that will not work at this highest level of competition, and certainly not for India at Paris here.
The last Indian boxer in the fray here, was she not aware of the task ahead of her in Paris? Or was appearing blissfully oblivious her way of deflecting all things mental in boxing?
Maybe, that is how she is made. Is Lovlina too much of a nice guy in this grab and smash world of Olympic women’s boxing? It was an aspect that she may have perhaps needed to conceal, disguise in this high stakes bout with Qian, one that would grant her entry to the Roland Garros venue as a semifinalist in the women’s 75kg, and ensure her of a medal, her second at the Olympics.
Because at some level there was disappointment too, and overnight anger. Disappointment because Lovlina was the last of the Indian boxers here in Paris, after a shrill campaign that had promised much but unfortunately delivered little. And anger from overnight, because many in the Indian camp felt that late evening fighter, Nishant Dev was robbed of a genuine win against Mexico’s Marco Alvarez in the strangest of split decisions in Saturday’s men’s 71kg quarterfinals, after he had taken the lead in the first round and had looked the better puncher in the final third.
Lovlina entered the ring with a smile, but left with a little tear in her eye. Because, it would go in similar fashion on Sunday morning as well, the Indian being edged out in a 4-1 split decision in a close fight to a familiar foe.
The bout began with Lovlina needing to stay out of the Chinese’s reach, not get too close and get ensnared in a scrap which would allow Qian employ her clinching tactics. But just the reverse happened. Lovlina was drawn into the fight at the level and nature that Qian would have liked, the holding and clinching ensued leaving Lovlina having to drag herself from it. Still, it was a close verdict – 3-2 – in the Chinese boxer’s favour.
Realising that she may have a chance if she reverted to her type, Lovlina began Round Two in just that way. Like she did with her easy-looking manner in the last bout against Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad, Lovlina kept away forcing Qian to charge. The taking over of momentum worked, as Lovlina seemed much more in control, dictating the fight her way.
It was the best round of boxing of the bout with the two gangly 75 kg boxers sizing each other up, parrying and trading punches. It was again 3-2 in favour of Qian, but a much-improved show from Lovlina – two of the judges who had ruled in favour of Qian in the first round choosing to award the Indian here. It gave much hope for the final three minutes, where maybe there lay in store, a semifinal entry for Lovlina, and her own second Olympic medal.
She had to fight to recover, to draw level and to take the lead. In the third then, dropping her defences Lovlina waded in, in an attempt to turn the tide but Qian was more than prepared. Trailing after the first round has afflicted the Indian boxers here in Paris, leaving them with having to do the rallying in the second and fight for parity and hope for an inch-close win off the final. More often than not that will not work at this highest level of competition, and certainly not for India at Paris here.
